I guess everyones pain measure is different.

I used to have bad period pain, but not terrible enough that i took anything that often ...
Contractions started off like that, but were way more intense.... I guess at some point the pain gets so much that the body must block it out, like sort of goes into shock...

I was yelling for drugs but mum was yelling for a epidural for me , and DH was asleep after sampling some gas .. towards the end. but if you keep focused and dont accept the drugs... you can have the kind of birth you want....

Everyones labour is also different and im sure you will do just fine I suprised myself